General Motors Corp. officially launched its new compact car in South Korea on Wednesday, marking the ailing U.S. auto giant’s first model developed as part of a shift to more fuel-efficient vehicles.
The Chevrolet Cruze, which began full-scale production at a plant of GM’s subsidiary in South Korea last month, will hit showrooms in the Korean market in mid-November before launches in Europe in early 2009 and in the United States in 2010.
The Cruze, equipped with a 1.6-liter, gasoline engine that produces 140 horsepower at its peak, will be sold in South Korea as the Lacetti Premiere.
GM unveiled the new car this month at the Paris Motor Show for the first time.
“Working together with GM’s global design and engineering teams has resulted in a vehicle that is destined to be a global benchmark and a sales winner,” said Michael Grimaldi, chief executive officer of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., referring to the Cruze.
